NATS GET BATS IN 8-MAN SWAP
The Washington Nationals acquired outfielder Austin Kearns, shortstop Felipe Lopez and pitcher Ryan Wagner from the Cincinnati Reds for shortstop Royce Clayton, infielder Brendan Harris and pitchers Gary Majewski and Bill Bray, plus minor-league pi
What does it give the Washington Nationals
Offense is what the Nats needed in a big way and offense is exactly what the Nats got in this deal. In fact, offense from the outfield and shortstop were two of their biggest holes and they filled both with Kearns and Lopez. Kearns, still just 26, has finally stayed healthy this year and is slugging like he should. While Lopez, also 26, isn't quite living up to the breakthrough numbers he posted last year but is still a major offensive upgrade at short over Clayton. While there's little chance of this deal boosting the Nats into contention this year, they're better off for the next few years with those two in the lineup, plus young Wagner. The 23-year-old righty was anointed closer of the future when the Reds drafted him in the first round and called him up all during the summer of 2003. Though he's struggled to perform in the majors and was demoted to Triple-A this year, his tremendous slider still makes him a young reliever with great potential. And in D.C. he probably won't have the pressure of having to be a closer with Chad Cordero in town.
What does it give the Cincinnati Reds
New GM Wayne Krivsky continues to put his stamp on the club as they find themselves surprisingly in contention heading into the second half. But this is a very strange deal for a contending team to make, giving up two key members of the starting lineup. However, the Reds did have the worst bullpen in baseball and Majewski and Bray will do much to rectify that, on top of the recent acquisition of closer Eddie Guardado. Majewski has emerged as a strong setup man over the past couple of seasons and could factor in as a potential closer after this season. And Bray is a rookie left-handed reliever who has done a good job in his first six weeks in the majors. He's a former first-rounder who throws hard and is another candidate for future closing duties in Cincy. Clayton, the veteran shortstop, is little more than an insurance policy in this deal. He'll start at short if Harris, a promising middle infielder, is unable to do so. Finally, Thompson is a promising righty who has some good stuff as a starter but is still at least a couple of years away from the majors. Having lost so much offense in the deal, this looks curiously more like a deal for the future than the present.
Fantasy impact
